Monday, 5 May 2014

In Response to the Church of Ireland's letter re: Equal Marriage

Before the vote in the Assembly the Chrurh of Ireland wrote to all MLAs in an open letter stating:

"The Church of Ireland continues to uphold its teaching that marriage is
part of God’s creation and a holy mystery in which one man and one woman
become one flesh … The Church of Ireland affirms, according to our
Lord's teaching that marriage is in its purpose a union permanent and
life–long, for better or worse, till death do them part, of one man with
one woman, to the exclusion of all others on either side … The Church
of Ireland recognises for itself and of itself, no other understanding
of marriage."

Two interesting letters have appears in The Irish Times since challenging the church in this view.

First on 30th April:

Sir, – The Church of Ireland (report, April 29th) in its official
response to Sinn Féin's motion in the Stormont Assembly in favour of
same sex marriage has affirmed "that marriage is in its purpose a union
permanent and life-long ... of one man with one woman, to the exclusion
of all others on either side ...The Church of Ireland recognises ... no
other understanding of marriage."

Just over a year ago an
electoral college of the same church elected to the see of Meath a
cleric in that diocese who had remarried after his first marriage ended
in divorce. His election was subsequently ratified by the House of
Bishops. He was obliged to withdraw from the position days before his
consecration was due to take place when (as newspapers reported widely
at the time) disclosures were made regarding
his conduct as
rector of a parish in Northern Ireland.

The Church of
Ireland believes that it is appropriate for a divorced and remarried
man to be a candidate for the office of bishop; other divorced and
remarried men still act as clergy in the church. The remarriage in
church of divorcees is no longer uncommon. In that case why does the
church continue to affirm its commitment in principle to a theology of
marriage which it cannot be bothered to honour in practice?

Yours, etc,

CDC ARMSTRONG,

Ulidia House,

Belfast BT12 5JN

Then on 3rd May:

Sir, – In opposition to the recent Sinn Féin motion in the Northern
Assembly proposing the introduction of same sex marriage in the North
the Church of Ireland has reaffirmed its position that marriage is "the
permanent and lifelong union of one man with one woman". How can this
position be reconciled with the practice of marrying divorced persons in
church whilst the previous spouse is still living?

Yours,
etc,

TIM BRACKEN,

Blarney Street,

Cork

So you have to wonder just how permanent and lifelong the mixed-sex marriages that the Church of Ireland carries out are, if one or both partners can latter be married to someone else? Also how is a same-sex couple seeking to enter into a life long commitment to the exclusion of all others being judged to be not as permanent or lifelong as some of those marriages?

Disclaimer

Please note the above list is from across the whole spectrum of politics. I do not personally subscribe to all the opinions contained within them, however they are as full a reflection as I can find of the divergence of political thought, commentary and motivation.

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